Nissan Leaf Approaching
June 28th, 2010First Drive 2011 Nissan Juke
June 6th, 2010
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 First Drive: 2011 Nissan JukeWild Thing: Nissan Crosses Over to the Wild Side
June 01, 2010
/ By Ron Kiino
Part SUV, part sporty coupe, the 2011 Juke brings Nissan into the exploding small-crossover arena, the fourth largest segment in the U.S. and one that continues to grow at an alarming rate. Other automakers are setting their sights on this segment, too. When the Juke goes on sale this fall, it will face off with such fresh faces as Mini Countryman and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, as well as a group of established players that includes Scion xB, Kia Soul, and Suzuki SX4. We recently had the opportunity to drive a pre-production all-wheel-drive Juke around the mountains near Malibu, and found its dynamics to be about as entertaining as its styling is shocking. Based on Nissan's global-B platform, which underpins the likes of Versa, Cube, and Renault Clio, the Juke is armed with an all-new direct-injected 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 that generates an estimated 185 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a standard continuously variable automatic (AWD comes exclusively with CVT; FWD with a six-speed manual or CVT), the DI 1.6 was eager to rev and proved plenty powerful to motivate the AWD's estimated 3200-pound curb weight. Zero to 60 should fall in the 7.5-8.0-second range — quick for a crossover that achieves combined fuel economy of 30 mpg — making up for the appliance whir of an engine note. Unlike the larger Rogue, the Juke is not available with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, an oversight for a sporty crossover aimed at attracting young males into Nissan showrooms. Of particular note is the Juke's available all-wheel-drive system, which sports torque-vectoring technology, a first for a Nissan crossover. This advanced system splits torque up to 50/50 between the front and rear axles, and, more important, routs torque side to side across the rear axle, which reduces understeer and heightens cornering agility by spinning the outside tire 5- to 10-mph faster than the inside one. To accommodate the additional hardware and complement the improved performance, Juke AWD gets a multi-link rear suspension in favor of the FWD's torsion beam. Over our winding test loop through the mountains, the Juke's torque-vectoring system — at 64 pounds, it's the lightest of its type in the world, according to Nissan — made quick work of tight turns and sweeping esses, rotating the rear end effortlessly and composedly. Wearing V-rated 215/55R17 Goodyear Eagle RS-A all-season tires, the Juke is about as "tossable" as small crossovers come.
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Nissan Cube Video Commercial
June 5th, 2010Hertz to offer electric Nissan Leaf as rental car
June 5th, 2010May 13, 2010
Hertz to offer electric Nissan Leaf as rental car
There’s been a great deal of hype on the upcoming electric Nissan Leaf–according to Nissan, 9,000 reservations have already been submitted. For those consumers still on the fence about acquiring an electric vehicle without having lived with one, Hertz is planning to offer Leaf rentals in the United States and Europe. The rental program is scheduled to begin in 2011, shortly after the Leaf goes on sale in select cities.
The fleet size and rental price have not yet been released. It is likely that Hertz will focus on areas that have high interest in alternative-fuel cars. Hence, it wouldn’t be surprising to see California as the launch location for this program since the Toyota Prius has been very popular there; plus, the state is offering a $5,000 rebate on Leaf purchases.
Last month Hertz announced a deal to purchase Dollar Thrifty car rental, which will add more than 1,500 additional rental locations.
Renting a vehicle you are interested in is a good opportunity to live with the car for a few days to find out whether you may want to purchase–especially if it is a much different type of vehicle to which you are accustomed. See our car rental tips for ways to save.
2011 Nissan Leaf EV Production Run Taken!
June 2nd, 2010Report: Early 2011 Nissan Leaf EV Production Run Spoken For!
The 2011 Nissan Leaf won't reach U.S. showrooms for another seven months, but the automaker says the initial batch of vehicles is entirely spoken for. "We think there is a big future for this car," said CEO Carlos Ghosn said at a Detroit Economic Club event. "I can already tell you that the production for 2010 is already sold out." That's rather impressive, considering some 13,000 examples of the electric Leaf were allocated to the U.S. market, and Nissan only opened its $99 reservation program last month. Perhaps pricing had something to do with it — a Leaf starts at $32,780, but a federal tax incentive will drop that figure to roughly $26,000. Early production models will be imported from Japan, but Nissan is expected to break ground later this week on a new facility in Smyrna, Tennessee, that will ultimately build both battery packs and Leaf vehicles for North America come 2013. The early demand for the Leaf is certainly encouraging to Nissan, but will customer demand remain high in the years to come? Only time will tell, but what say you? Do you have any interest in picking up a new Leaf? Source: The Detroit Free Press |
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Nissan Tent Event Going on now!
May 22nd, 2010
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Picture this: You're out on the road, driving in mixed traffic with your choice of drivers to follow. One is a gray-haired senior puttering along in the right lane and the other is a fresh-faced teenager moving briskly in the left lane.
Statistically speaking, which driver is safer to follow? The older driver with the slower reflexes, poorer vision, and cautious driving style, or the younger driver with faster reactions, better eyesight, and driving with the flow of traffic?
The answer: Stay in the right lane, behind the oldster, and let the teenager go on his way. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the safest drivers are in the age group between 64 and 69 years old. And studies of the data reveal that teenage drivers — especially male teenage drivers — are the most dangerous drivers on the road.
"In every motorized country around the world, teenage drivers are disproportionately involved in crashes," said Dr. Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Institute. "The seriousness of this problem has been recognized for decades. Only in the last few years have public policies such as graduated driving licenses been enacted to address the situation. And those laws seem to be working, but fatalities are still high."
Statistics Say Seniors are Safer
In 2008, 5,864 15- to 20-year-old drivers were involved in fatal crashes. That's the bad news. The good news is that number is down by 27 percent since 1998. Driver fatalities for this age group also decreased by 20 percent in the same time period.
However, motor vehicle crashes still remain the major cause of death for teenagers. In 2008, 2,739 15- to 20-year-old drivers were killed and an additional 228,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Sixty percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.
Senior drivers, like teenage drivers, have higher crash rates per mile driven, especially when it comes to fatal crashes. But seniors don't drive as many miles, so a better measurement of their susceptibility to accidents can be had by comparing crash rates on a per capita basis. Looking at the numbers in this way shows senior drivers have much lower crash rates. Despite their increased risk of crashing per mile driven, relatively few elderly drivers are involved in accidents because of their lower rates of exposure. In addition, the rate of fatalities per capita among seniors has decreased 40 percent since 1975 and is now at its lowest level during this period.
Let’s look at the numbers. In 2008, 15- to 20-year-old drivers made up 8.5 percent of the U.S. population, yet accounted for 12 percent of occupant deaths among all ages in passenger vehicle (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans). Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash. Drivers from 65 to 69 years old made up 3.7 percent of the population, but accounted for just 3.2 percent of all fatal crashes.
Risky Business
Major risk factors contributing to teenage crashes are those you would expect, including:
• Lack of experience. Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations.
• Poor judgment. Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next).
• Low seat belt usage. Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2007, 61 percent of all 15- to 20-year-old passenger vehicle occupants killed in fatal crashes were not wearing seat belts.
Preventing Teenage Driving Injuries
"Almost all states have adopted some form of graduated driver licensing," said Dr. McCartt. "These laws are proving effective in reducing teenage crashes."
Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems are designed to delay full licensure while allowing teens to get their initial driving experience under low-risk conditions. Research suggests that the most comprehensive of these programs are associated with reductions of 38 percent and 40 percent in fatal and injury crashes, respectively, among 16-year-old drivers.
"When parents know their state's GDL laws, they can help enforce the laws and, in effect, help keep their teen drivers safe," said Dr. McCartt.
One of the reasons for their safer driving statistics is that seniors tend to be more aware of their limitations and drive accordingly. "There may be several factors as to why seniors appear to be safer drivers, one of which may be that most teens are novice drivers and seniors have been at it a lot longer," said Patricia Swift-Oladeinde, spokeswoman at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "But regardless of each person's ability, NHTSA encourages all drivers to solely focus on driving when behind the wheel. After all, one distraction can be one too many," she said.
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Daytona Nissan Blogs: Nissan Wants To Sell You An Electric Car
May 7th, 2010By 
Cyrus Etemad-Moghadam, Author, March 25th, 2009 Cyrus Etemad-Moghadam March 25th, 2009
Nissan is still playing catch up with Toyota on the hybrid and electric-car front. Toyota now sells hundreds of thousands hybrids a year (over 150,000 Priuses just in 2008, in the U.S.). Nissan even buys hybrid drivetrains for its Altima from Toyota.But now Nissan and Renault have decided to gamble as well. The bet: Electric Vehicles (EVs). It makes sense: EVs don't need gasoline. Power generation may change from country to country, but EVs don't care if their electricity was generated by a coal plant, a nuclear power plant or clean energy. No, EVs just need a plug.In 2007, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn pulled all the stops and decided to skip hybrid technology and go directly to full electric vehicles. Renault and Nissan have multiple agreements with U.S. states (Oregon, Tennessee), various nations (Iceland, Israel, Portugal), regions (like Tucson area in the states, Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan), as well as cities like Paris, Yokohama and the Principality of Monaco to develop and supply full electric vehicles in 2010 and 2011. This bold move was necessary to take the first to market advantage.Technology wise, Nissan is partnered with NEC to make lithium-ion batteries for Nissan's cars. The Wall Street Journal reported that the batteries were laminated to avoid the types overheating experienced in laptop and cell phone batteries (WSJ Article). Nissan also has partnerships with utility companies, either through it's international agreements or directly with companies like EDF (Electricite de France, France's national utilities), private rental services companies like "greentomatocars" and with zero-emission transport system company "elektromotive."
Nissan's approach to the markets will be different based on local needs and contractual agreements and local infrastructure. For example there are more garages in the UK, therefore an owner is more likely to recharge the batteries overnight. Nissan does plan to lease the batteries instead of selling them to reduce the impact of the expected $10,000 average increase per car.
In the U.S., we might expect the Cube to be the first all-electric car from Nissan, though Nissan confirms only a new vehicle with a radical style like the Cube. The recently introduced Nissan NV2000 concept van, based on the Renault Kangoo platform, will also be available as an electric vehicle, most likely built in the company's Canton, Miss., factory with the gasoline-powered versions of the new commercial vehicle.
In the end, Nissan is planning for an all-electric future. Its relationship with state governments and its shared goal with Renault to lead the market puts Nissan on the right track to become a major player in the 21st century mobility industry.
Daytona Nissan Blogs:The New 2011 Nissan Juke
May 5th, 2010
April 22nd, 2010
In late 2010 Nissan will release the Juke, a crossover that uniquely combines an SUV with a sports car. The new Juke combines elements from the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and even Nissan’s own Cube to create its stylistic exterior.
The vehicle was first revealed in concept form at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, but Nissan has planned its release in late 2010 to ensure a quality design by the time production rolls around. Some have questioned whether the move was so that the Juke would accompany the other line of vehicles Nissan is planning to roll out such as the new Infiniti M37 and M56, and Leaf all-electric car, all of which are due this year.
Most can see the immediate representation of both SUV and sports car in the Juke but if you don’t, look at the bottom of the vehicle to see the SUV base with bulky wheels and frame, and the top of the Juke to see a sporty streamlined coupe. While some automakers have created similar concepts, such as the Lexus RX330, Porsche Cayenne, and Infiniti FX35, Nissan is considered to be the first to create an affordable version that meets the quality standards expected of a mainstream brand.
In the U.S., the Juke will come with a single engine, a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with more than 180 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. With such a small green engine, it’s only assumed that the pricetag of auto insurance will be next to nothing. The Juke will be priced from below $20,000 for the base model, a truly astounding price for someone who is looking for a sportier version of the CR-V and RAV4.
Daytona Nissan Blogs:Auto-Industry Recovery: Not Quite Yet, Analysts Say
May 5th, 2010
Analysts at the market-research firm AutoPacific report that though there are many indications that the recession is ending—or over—there might not be any strong indicators in the automotive sector that things will get much better anytime soon.
The firm has found that new-vehicle purchase intention has weakened, not strengthened, in recent months; so, barring stimuli like sales-stoking special deals and incentives—of which there have been plenty—demand this spring might actually be lower than it was for part of last year. Last September, the firm found that 23 percent of those polled indicated that they "were definitely or probably likely to acquire a new vehicle in the next 24 months." But in data from this March, only 20 percent indicated that.
AutoPacific also noted the continuation of an unexpected trend that we reported back in February. The firm had found—again through its Fuel Price Impact Survey—that interest in small cars and hybrids was, surprisingly, waning as pump prices continued to rise (albeit gradually).
Consumers' intention to replace whatever they were driving with a sport-utility vehicle (including a car-based crossover) has gone from 16 percent a year ago to 27 percent in March, and small-car consideration has fallen from 22 percent to 12 percent from March 2009 to March 2010—in a period when the price of gas rose 44 percent.
The most dramatic was hybrid intention: down from 22 percent in March of 2009 to 11 percent in January 2009 and on to just nine percent this March. Actual sales trends contradict this; Toyota just reported a 41-percent increase in hybrid sales in April versus a year ago—although in all fairness last April the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius hadn't yet reached dealerships.
Of course, as before, gas-price volatility probably has a lot to do with the change in attitude. Over the past year or more, the market hasn't experienced the dramatic volatility that it did from 2005 until early 2009. Since then, prices have risen, gradually, from a national-average $1.71 to a current average of nearly $2.90 (as of May 3).
Are these trends occurring simply because we haven't had $4 gas in some time so shoppers are becoming complacent, or because the market is changing in other ways—replacing larger family vehicles but having fewer of them, for instance—that we won't recover from for a long time, if ever? To this, we'll just have to hold on and hope for more positive signs.
[AutoPacific]–>
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection]]>